Jan 05, Colombo: The government of Japan will support Sri Lanka to become the economic hub of Asia, the Foreign Affairs Minister of Japan Taro Kono has assured when he called on Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe at the Temple Trees on Friday.

Meeting with the Premier, the Japanese Minister said he visited Sri Lanka with the hope of further strengthening the economic and political ties between the two countries.

He said that Japan would always support Sri Lanka to achieve its aspiration of becoming a financial and economic hub in the Indian Ocean.

Prime Minister Wickremesinghe expressing his appreciation to Japan for the support given to Sri Lanka as a true friend, said Sri Lanka continually values the support given by Japan for the development of the country as well as for the security and unrestricted navigation in the Indian Ocean.

The Prime Minister highlighted that Japan's experience as well as investments are important to Sri Lanka for the development projects including the development of Colombo and Trincomalee harbors, expansion of the city of Kandy, development of Central expressway and the expansion of the Katunayake international airport etc.

It was also revealed that the agreement on the floating Liquid Natural Gas (LNG) power plant project with Japan will be signed in the third week of January.

Japan in a joint venture with India has agreed to build a floating liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal, a 500 MegaWatt power plant and a gas distribution pipeline in Sri Lanka.

The Japanese Foreign Minister pointing out that Japan and Sri Lanka can cooperate in a number of sectors said in the future he hopes to work more closely with the Sri Lanka Foreign Ministry.

The visiting Japanese Foreign Minister also met with the Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena and his Sri Lankan counterpart Tilak Marapana today.